President N. Eldon Tanner, Part Four - Henry Van Dyke and "The Mansion"

 For Part One, Part Two, or Part Three, click the link you wish. 

Here's the final cultural quote from the Conference talk, "Choose You This Day", by President N. Eldon Tanner.

 

 The Quote

"I am reminded of Henry Van Dyke’s story “The Mansion,” where he tells of the rich man who lived in a mansion on earth but was shocked to find that he had only a tiny hut when he reached heaven. But the poor man found to his surprise that he had a mansion in heaven because he had been laying up for himself treasures in heaven."

 

Henry Van Dyke

The writer Henry Van Dyke was a bit of a revelation - the kind of person whom you read about his life with lots of 'wow's punctuating it.

Professor of English Literature at Princeton - wow!

Went to school with Woodrow Wilson - wow!

Personal friend of Helen Keller - wow!

Officiated at Mark Twain's funeral - wow!

The guy was a name-dropping powerhouse. I am in awe. 

Please to call him the husband of my 11th cousin twice removed. :-)

 

The Mansion 

On top of that, he was a prolific writer of short stories and poetry. The Christmas story "The Mansion" is one of a long list of stories that emphasize a deep spirituality, which are honestly my favorite kind.

It's a quick read, and for me at least, there's a little bit of a kindred spirit feel about him.

This story also hits home to me a little bit because of where I work, at a very prestigious school. Many people contribute to the upkeep of our school, and for their pains and their sacrifice, they get to name something at the school. 

But here's where it gets weird. For a million dollars or more, you can put your name on a new building. Sometimes multiple buildings are listed under one name, such as the one successful alumni who's donated around fifty million dollars.

Then there are other things - classrooms, benches, trees - that also have names. A little while ago, for $100, you could put your name on a brick in the sidewalk, and people will walk all over you and drop gum on your name.

But those names don't last. One building was renamed recently, because that donor and all her family were dead, and well, someone else wanted to have their name on that building.

That donor's immortality was somewhat short-lived. And what did they gain?

I'm not one to judge, but if I were ever to have the means to name a building or anything, I wouldn't choose my own name. I would use the name of the person who helped me get to the point of being able to name a building.

Immortality will have to come in ways that lift others, and not myself. The self-aggrandizing offering doesn't last.

I mean, who remembers Henry Van Dyke now? Think about that one. Woodrow Wilson, Mark Twain, and Helen Keller may last a little longer, but who knows how long that will last?